Cathode-ray tube tester



March 17, 1953 R. A. REID CATHOPE-RAY TUBE TESTER Filed Feb. 7, 1951- Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED CATHODE-RAY TUBE TESTER Robert A. Reid, Belleville, N. J., assigner to Thomas Electronics, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Y Application February 7, 1951, Serial No. 209,715

7 Claims.

This invention relates to tube testers, particularly of the type to test cathode ray tubes.

As conducive to an understanding ofthe invention it is noted that in cathode ray tubes the vacuum is much greater than in conventional vacuum tubes and hence there are less gas molecules present. This is essential in cathode ray tubes for if there should be a large number of gas molecules, the resultant gas current would cause the total current now through the tube to be greater than in the case of a pure electron discharge from the cathode. As the character istics of a gas iilled tube are not constant, the operation of such a tube would be irregular which is objectionable in cathode ray tubes where smooth response is essential for undistorted reproduction of the images being televised.

As the gas current in ordinary vacuum tubes is relatively great, there is no need for a sensitive meter in conventional tube testers to determine such current. Consequently stray currents due to hand capacitance, dirt on the tube or moisture in the air, will have little effect on such meter.

However, in the case of cathode ray tubes where a very sensitive indicating device is required to measure the minute gas current, such stray currents will also be indicated and unless they can be compensated for without aliecting the sensitivity of the indicating device, the gas current reading will be unreliable.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a cathode ray tubel tester that is neat, compact and not likely to become out of order, which will indicate even minute gas currents and will compensate for stray currents due to hand capacitance, dirt on the tube, moisture in the air or the like without decreasing sensitivity of the meter to such minute gas currents.

According to one aspect of the invention, the tube tester includes a vacuum tube amplifier which is connected in circuit with the cathode ray tube, a meter and a source of potential and which may be adjusted to compensate for stray currents through the cathode ray tube so that a predetermined current will flow throughV the meter. The tester is so designed that the meter may be switched into circuit with the accelerating grid of the cathode ray tube which functions as a plate, to indicate the. emission from the cathode and such emission may be regulated to a desired amount so that when the amplifier is switched into series with the meter and the anode of the cathode ray tube which is negative with respect to the cathode. a gas current indi- 2 cation will be given based on said predetermined emission.

The tester, through suitable switching circuits, is designed to test short circuits and leakage between the control grid, the accelerating grid or the cathode and any of the other elements of the tube.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the various features of the invention, the single figure is a circuit diagram of the equipment.

Referring now to the drawing, the cathode ray tube tester desirably includes a conventional power supply I| which may be connected to a source of alternating potential. The power supply which vmay have an output of 350 volts, has an output lead I4 by means of which positive potential is supplied and also has a pair of leads I2 and i3 to supply the iilaments of the tubes used in the tester and the cathode ray tube being tested.

As the power supply may be of any suitable conventional design utilizing standard components, it will not be further described.

The tester desirably comprises a plurality of switches S-I to S8` inclusive, said switches each having a movable contact arm S, ganged together so as to move in unison upon rota-tion of a suitable control knob (not shown), and a plurality of fixed contacts, illustratively ve in number designated I to 5 inclusive. As shown in the drawing, the output lead I4 from the power supply II is connected by leads I1 and I3 to contact 2 of switch S-S, which is connected to contacts 3 and l by lead 2|. Contact Il of switch S-i is connected by lead 22 to one side of resistor 23, illustratively of 68 ohms, the other side of said resistor being connected to contact 5 of switch S-8.

Lead Id from the power supply is connected by leads I1, 25, 26 and 21 to contact I- of switch Sil, which in turn is connected to contacts l and 5 by leads 28 and 29. Contact 2 of switch S-l is connected by leads 3| and 32 to contact 3 of switch S-3, and by leads 3| and 33 to the control grid G-l of the cathode' ray tube 34, which is desirably mounted in a suitable' socket (not shown) which forms part of the tube tester. Contact 3 of switch S-t is connected by leads 35, St and 3l to movable switch arm S of switch S-i the contacts 2,4 and 5 of said switch S-I being connected by common lead 30, said switch having a dead contact 3. Contact 3 of switch SAS is connected by leads 35 and 36 to one side of re-a sistor 38 which illustratively has a value of 10,000 ohms and has its other side connected -to ground, and by leads 35 and 39 to the junction 4I between resistors 42 and 43. Desirably resistor 42 is a potentiometer having a value of 100,000 ohms, connected at one end to resistor 43, which may have a value of 20,000 ohms, as at 4| and at its other end to ground, the free end of resistor 43 being connected by lead 44 to the junction 45 between leads 25 and 26. The movable arm 46 of potentiometer 42 is desirably connected to contact of switch S-2. The contact of switch S-2 is desirably connected to ground, and the contacts 2, 3 and 4 ofswitch S-2 are connected by common lead 49 to contact I and thence to ground. The contacts I, 3, 4 and 5 of switch S-3 are connected by common lead 5I, said switch S-3 desirably having a dead contact 2. The switch arm S of switch S-3 is connected by leads 52 and A5,3 to the switch arm S of switch S2 and by leads 52 and 54 to fixed contact 2 of switch S-5. The contact I of switch S-5 is connected by leads 55 and 56 to contact 5 of switch S-5; by leads 55, 51 and 58 to the accelerating grid G2 of the cathode ray tube 34, and by leads 55, 51 and 59 to switch arm S of switch S-B. The contact 3 of switch S-5 is connected by leads 60 and 6I to the cathode K of tube 34 and by leads 60 and 62 to fixed contact 4 of switch S-I. Contact 4 of switch S-5 is connected by leads 63 and 64 to one side of plate load resistor 65, illustratively of 100,000 ohms, the other side of which is connected to the plate 66 of vacuum tube 61, which forms part of an amplifier circuit and is desirably a type 6AC7 tube.

Contact 4 of switch S-5 is also connected by leads 63, 1I and 12 to contact 4 of switch S-6 and by leads 63, 1I and 13 to contact 14 of a ganged pair of pushbutton two point make and break switches 15. The associated contact 16 of said switch, which is normally disconnected from contact 14 by reason of the spaced jumper arm 11, is connected by leads 18 and 19 to contact 5 of switch S-6, said contact 5 being connected by leads 19 and 8| to the contact 82 of the switch 15. The contact 83 associated with contact 82 and normally connected thereto by jumper arm 84, is connected by leads 85 and 86 to the movable switch arm S of switch S-5. Arm S of switch S5 is connected by leads 86, 81 which latter branches into leads 88 and 89, to contacts 9| and 92 respectively, of a ganged pair of pushbutton two point make and break switches 93. The contact 94 associated with contact 9| and normally disconnected therefrom by reason of the spaced jumper arm 95, is connected by lead 96 to one side of a resistor 91, illustratively of 750,000 ohms, the other side of said resistor being connected by lead 98 to contact I of switch S-I, said contact I being connected to contacts 2 and 3 by common lead 99. The contact IOI of switch 93 associated with contact 92 and normally connected thereto by jumper arm I 02, is connected by lead |03 to contact 3 of switch S-1, said contact 3 being connected to contacts I and 2 by common lead |04. As shown, the contacts 4 and 5 of switch S-1 are dead contacts. The movable switch arm S of switch S-1 is connected by leads |05, |06 and |01 to one side of neon lamp |09 and to one side of resistor |08, illustratively of 3.9 megohms. As shown, said resistor |08 and lamp |09 are connected in parallel with their other sides being connected by leads I I I, I I2, I I3 and II4 to one side of fuse II5, the other side of which is connected to one side of a current indi- 4 eating meter IIB, preferably a microammeter, the other side of which is connected by lead |I1 to switch arm S of switch S-B. Desirably lead II3 is also connected by lead II9 to switch arm S of switch S-4.

The output lead I4 of the power supply II is desirably connected by leads I2| and |22 to one end of a resistor |23, illustratively of 47,000 ohms, the other end of which is connected to the screen grid |24 of vacuum tube 61 which forms part of a conventional amplifier circuit. Lead I2I is also connected to one end of a resistor network including series connected resistors |25, |26 and |21 illustratively of 100,000 ohms, 5,000 ohms and 4,700 ohms respectively, the end of said series connected resistors being connected to ground as at |28.

Resistor |26 is desirably a potentiometer, the movable arm |29 of which is connected to the cathode |3| of tube 6'I, said cathode being connected in conventional manner by lead |32 to the suppressor grid |33 of said tube. The control grid |34 of tube 61 is connected through resistor |35, illustratively of 10 megohms, to ground as at |28 and is also connected by shielded lead |36 to the anode connection |31 of the cathode ray tube 34.

Operation To use the testing equipment the cathode ray tube 34 is plugged into the socket (not shown) and the shielded lead |36 connected to the anode terminal |31 of tube 34. The switches S-I to S-8 are set to position four in which the ganged movable switch arms S are respectively engaging the contacts 4 of the switches. The power supply is then turned on which will apply voltage to the filaments of the cathode ray tube 34 and to the tube 61. Simultaneously a positive potential of 350 volts will be applied to grid G2 of cathode ray -tube 34, the circuit being from output lead I4 of the power supply, leads I1, I8 and 2|, contact 4 of switch S-8, switch arm S which is engaging said contact, leads 59 and 58 to grid G2.

A positive potential Will also be applied from lead I4 through leads I1 and 25, junction 45, leads 26 and 28, contact 4 of switch S-4, movable arm S thereof which is engaging said contact 4, leads II9 and II4, fuse II5, through meter |I6, lead II1 to switch arm S of switch S-E which is engaging contact 4 thereof and thence from contact 4 through leads 12, II and 64, plate load resistor 65 to the plate 66 of tube 61.

The cathode K of the cathode ray tube 34 will have a positive potential applied thereto from lead I4, I1 and 25, junction 45, lead 44, resistor 43, potentiometer 42 to ground and from junction 4I through leads 39, 36, 31 to switch arm S of switch S-I which is engaging contact 4 thereof. and from contact 4 through leads 62 and 6I to cathode K.

As a result of the voltage drop across resistor 43 and the parallel connected resistors 42 and 38, with an applied voltage of 350 volts, volts will be applied to cathode K. This voltage may readily be calculated as follows: The value o! parallel connected resistors I42 and 38 which are respectively 100,000 ohms and 10,000 ohms is 9,090 ohms. This combined value in series with resistor 43, which has a value of 20,000 ohms, give a total value of 29,090 ohms which at an applied voltage of 350 volts gives .012 amps. Thus, there will be a drop of 240 volts across resistor 43 and approximately 110 volts across the parallel connected resistors 42 and 38.

The grid G-I of the cathode ray tube 34 will be connected to ground from lead 33, 32 and 5I, contact 4 of switch S-S which is engaged by arm S thereof, leads 52 and 53 to arm S of switch S-2 which `engages contact 4 thereof and 'thence through lead 49, to contact l of switch S-2 which is connected to ground. With the cathode at 110 volts positive as previously described and the control grid at ground or zero potential, the control grid will be at 110 volts negative with respect to the cathode and consequently, the cathode ray tube 34 will be biased to cut oil and no current will flow from the cathode K to the accelerating grid G-2 which functions as a pl-ate.

Positive potential will also be applied to the screen grid I24 of tube 5l from leads I4, Il and 22, resistor IZB to screen grid |24. The value of such voltage will be approximately 350 volts as little or no screen grid current will flow. The cathode 232 of tube 6l will be biased from lead I4 and l2! through series connected resistors 25, ist and l2? to ground as at |28, the bias being adjustable by means of the resistor 25 which is a potentiometer having its movable arm $2.3 connected to cathode iSI.

With the tube tester in position 4 which forms the circuits above described, the cathode ray tube 34 will be substantially non-conducting and the tube el will conduct, the current flow therethrough being measured by meter HS in series with plate 66 of tube Such current reading is desirably adjusted by rotating the potentiorneter arm 29 to vary the bias on tube Bl until a reading of l microarnperes is indicated on meter lit which, with a SAC? type tube, will enable the latter to function on the linear portion of its amplification curve for linear ree sponse. This ten microamperes of current ilow is correlated with a Zero indication on the of ine-ter IH.

The zeroing or' the meter II above described, so that it will function on the linear portion of the tube 6l', is also necessary to cornn pensate for anode leakage current from cathode ray tube 34 due to, for example, hand capacitance, moisture in the air or dirt on the tube. The meter H and associated ampliner tube which must be sensitive enough to measure the minute currents due to gas in the cathode ray tube 34 would also be sensitive enough to amplify such stray currents and the zeroing of the meter is intended to compensate for such factors.

After the testing equipment is zeroed as above described, the cathode ray tube 34 may be tested for emission of electrons from the cathode K. This is accomplished by rotating movable switch arms S until they are in position ve engaging contacts 5 of switches S-I to S-B respectively.

With the equipment in position live, the grid G-i of cathode ray tube 3s is connected by leads (-22 and 5I to contact 5 of switch S-3, which is engaged by switch arm S thereof, thence through leads 52, and 53, switch arm S of switch S-, contact t3 thereof, movable arm 4G of potentiometer ft2, resistor 43, leads d4, 25, l? and i4 to the power supply. The cathode K of the cathode ray tube 34 will be connected to the power supply il from leads i4, i?, 25 and 44, resistor 43, junction 4l, leads 39, Se and 3l, switch arm S of switch S-I, contact 5 thereof, lead 5G to contact leads t2 and 6i to cathode K. Consequently, as previously described, the cathode K will have a positive potential of approximately 110 volts applied thereto and grid G-I will have a potential thereon of more than 11,0 volts as parallel connected Jresistors 42 and 38 have a voltage of 240 volts thereacross as previously described.

Grid (5 2 of the cathode ray tube 34 will be connected to the power supply II, the circuit being from leads i4, Il and I8, xed contact 2 of switch S-B, lead 2|, contact 4 of said switch, lead 22 through resistor 23, which has a 'value of 68 ohms, contact 5, switch arm S, leads 58 and 5S to grid Ge?. Simultaneously the meter H6 will be connected in parallel with resistor 23, the circuit beingY from main i4, leads Il and 25, junction '45, leads 2d and 23, contact 4 of switch S-4 which is connected by lead 2S to contact t thereof and thence from switch arm S which eng-ages contact 5, through leads Ile and H4, fuse IIE, meter IIE, lead il? to switch arc S ci switch' S-i5, contact 5 engaged thereby, leads le and 3l, bridged contacts B2 and 33 of push button switch l5, leads t5 and Se, switch arm S of switch S5, contact 5 engaged thereby and leads 5d, El and 53 to grid (3f-2. As resistor is of relatively low value with respect to the resistance of meter Sie, substantially all of the current will pass through said resistor 23 and with this arrangement the meter llt is calibrated to have a scale reading of aero to one milliainpere.

With the circuit above described, the grid G-2 ci the cathode ray tube will function as an anode so that the electrons emitted by the cathode K will now to the grid G-Z to be indicated on the meter llt.

The potentiometer 42 which controls the bias on grid G-I of the cathode'ray tube is thereupon adjusted so that one-half a ma. of current will fiow through such tube which will be indicated on meter I I 6. If the potentiometer cannot be adjusted sulilciently so that one-half a ma. is indicated on meter IIii the tube is of low emission and should be discarded.

In position nve above described, the plate 65 of the vacuum tube el is disconnected from the meter circuit due to the normally open contacts 'F4 and lect pushbutton switch l5. To test for gas in the cathode ray tube with the switches S-I to S- still in position rlve, it is merely necessary to press pushbutton switch l5. will open contacts Sil, S3 and close contacts 74, le thereof.

The opening of contacts 32, 83 disconnects grid G-E of cathode ray tube 34 from meter IIE. The closing of contacts '14, 'IB connects meter H6 in series with the power supply il and the plate Se of tube el. The circuit is from power supply li, leads i4, il, 25, 26, 28, contact 4 of switch S-4, lead 29, contact 5, switch arm S, leads IIQ and lill, fuse H5, meter HG, lead Ill, switch arm S of switch S-S which engages contact 5, leads 79 and le, bridged contacts l, lil, leads 13, l! and 64, plate load resistor 65 to plate S5. With the circuit above described, the resistor 23 is no longer in parallel with meter Il@ and hence the total current from tube el will flow through the meter which is also calibrated to read from zero to one hundred microamperes.

As the cathodev ray tube 34 is conducting as previously described, the electrons will ilow from the cathode K to grid G-Z which functions as an anode. The iiow of electrons will bombard the gas molecules in the cathode ray tube 34, causing additional electrons to be emitted by the gas molecules thereby making such molecules positive ions. As the cathode K. of. tube 34 is at approximately 110 volts positive potential as previously described, while the anode |31, which is connected through resistor |35 to ground |28, is substantially at ground potential the anode will be negative with respect to the cathode. Consequently, the positive gas ions will be attracted by the negative anode |31 of the tube 34 which is connected to the control grid |34 of tube 61 by lead |36. The flow of the positive gas ions to the negative anode will cause a current flow through resistor |35 to ground with resultant voltage drop across said resistor |35, which will be impressed on the grid |34 of tube 61 and the resultant amplified signal will be indicated on meter ||6 as the gas current; of tube 34.

As the cathode ray tube 34 has been set up so that it will have an emission of one-half ma., the meter ||6 desirably is marked so that the ratio of the gas current to the emission current will be indicated directly on the meter. This ratio should be approximately .25 for eiicient tube operation. Thus, if the gas current is .000125 ampere and the emission current is .0005 ampere or one-half ma., the ratio will be .25.

Having thus tested the tube for emission and gas, tests may be made for short circuit and leakage between grid G-2 and the other elements of the tube by moving the switch arm S of switches S| to S-8 to position one. In position one, the grid G-2 of cathode ray tube 34 is connected through leads 58, 51 and 55, contact of switch S-S, switch arm S thereof which engages contact leads 86, 81 and 89, bridged contacts 92 and |0|, lead |03, contact 3 of switch S-1, lead |04, contact switch arm S, lead |05, leads |06, |01 through neon lamp |09 and resistor |08 respectively, which function as a short circuit indicating device, leads and ||2, respectively, leads ||3 and ||9, switch arm S of switch S-4 which is engaging contact thereof, leads 21, 26, 25, |1 and |4 to power supply Grid G-I of tube 34 is connected to ground through leads 33, 32 and 5|, contact of switch S-3, switch arm S thereof, leads 52 and 53, switch arm S of switch arm S-2 which is engaging contact thereof, which is connected to ground. Thus, by the grounding of grid G-l, cathode ray tube 34 is cut oif as the grid will be at 110 volts negative with respect to the cathode K which has 110 volts positive potential thereon from power supply leads 14, |1, 25, 44, resistor 43, leads 39, 36 and 31, switch arm S of switch S|, contact lead 30, contact 4, leads 62 and 6| to cathode K.

If there should be a short circuit between grid G-2 and any other element of the tube, say for example, grid G-l, a complete circuit would be provided between the positive side of the power supply and ground. Consequently, the current flowing through resistor |08 will effect a voltage drop thereacross which will cause neon lamp |09 in parallel therewith to light.

In the event neon lamp |09 does not light, a more sensitive leakage test may be made between grids G-2 and the other elements in the cathode ray tube. This is accomplished in position one, by merely pushing the pushbutton switch 93 so that the contacts 9| and 94 thereof will be bridged by jumper arm 95 and the contacts 92 and 0| thereof will be disconnected. The disconnection of contacts 92 and |0| will remove neon lamp |09 and resistor |08 from circuit and the meter ||6 will be placed in circuit in series with grid G-2 and the positive power supply. The circuit is from power supply Il, leads I4, |1, 25, 26 and 21, contact of switch S-4, arm S thereof, leads ||9 and ||4, fuse ||5, meter IIB, lead ||1, switch arm S of switch S-B, contact lead 98, resistor 91, lead 96, bridged contacts 9|, 94, leads 88, 81 and 86, switch arm S of switch S5 which engages contact thereof and leads 55, 51 and 58 to grid G-2.

As a result or the above circuit, as the cathode ray tube is cut off, any current ow indicated by meter ||6 will `be caused by leakage current flowing between grid G-2 and any other element of the tube.

Where it is desired to test in order to see if grid G| is shorted to any other element in the tube 34, the switch arms S are moved to position two. As a result, grid G-2 will be connected directly to power supply through leads 58 and 59, switch arrn S of switch S-8, contact 2 thereof, leads i8, |1 and |4 to the power supply. The grid G-i will be connected through leads 33 and 3| to contact 2 of switch S-4 and thence through switch arm S thereof which is engaging contact 2 through leads H9, H3, and ||2 which are respectively connected to one side of neon lamp 09 and resistor |08, leads |06 and |01, lead |95, switch arm S of switch S-1, contact 2, leads |04 and |03, :bridged contacts |8|, 92, leads 89, 31 and 85, switch arm S of switch S-S, contact 2 engaged thereby, leads 54 and 53, switch ami S of switch arm S-2, contact 2, lead 49 to contact which is connected to ground.

As a result of such circuit if there is a short circuit between grid G-l, which is connected to ground and any of the other element o the tube which are at a higher potential such as, for example, grid G-2 which is connected to the positive power supply or the cathode K which has volts positive potential applied thereto as previously described, current will ow through resistor 08 and neon lamp |09 in parallel therewith.

In the event that the neon lamp |09 is not illuminated the more sensitive leakage test is made by pressing push button switch 93 which closes the normally open contacts 9|, 94 thereof and opens normally closed contacts 92, |0|. The closing of contacts 9|, 94 puts meter ||6 in series with grid G-I and ground and the opening,r of contacts ISI, 92 disconnects neon lamp |09 and resistor |09.

The circuit for meter ||8 is from grid G-l, leads 33 and 3|, contact 2 of switch S-4, contact arm S in engagement therewith, leads ||9 and ||4, fuse H5, meter I |6, lead ||1, arm S of switch S-, contact 2, leads 99, 98, resistor 91, lead 95, bridged contacts 94 and 9|, leads 38, 81 and 86, switch arm S of switch S-5 which engages contact 2 thereof, leads 54 and 53, switch arm S of switch S-2 which is engaging contact 2, lead 49, contact to ground. As tube 34 is cut off in position two, in the event of any leakage current between grid G-l which is connected to ground and any other element or" the tube 34 which is at a higher potential, such current will be indicated on rneter I6.

To test for short circuit or leakage from cathode K of tube 34 to any other element in the tube the movable switch arms S are rotated to position three. In this position the cathode K will be connected through leads 6| and 60, contact 3 of switch S-5, switch arm S, leads 86, 81 and 89, bridged contacts 92, |0| of switch 93, lead |03 to contact 3 of switch S-1, contact arm S in engagement therewith, leads |05 and |06, |01 to neon lamp |09 and resistor |08 in parallel Avaciaaiaa t 9 therewith, leads ill, H2 and H3, l I9, switch arm S of switch S-li which `'engages contact 3, leads 35 and 3S to junction lil between resistors i2 and dt and thence by leads lid, 25, il and l@ to the power supply.

As a result of the above circuit, the cathode K will have ll@ volt positive potential applied thereto as previously described. The grid G-l of tube Sil is connected to ground through leads 33 and 32, contact 3 of switch S-, contact arm S, leads 52 and 53, arm S of switch S-2, contact lead 4S to contact i, and thence to ground. The grid G-Z of tube 3!!- is connected directly to the power supply Il through leads 53 and 59, switch arm S of switch S-B, contact 3, lead 2i, contact 2, leads I8, l? and ill.

Consequently, if the cathode K should be short circuited, for example, to grid G-E, `which is at ground potential, current will now through resistor i and neon lamp H39 will :be illuminated. To make a leakage test it is merely necessary to press pushbutton switch 93. This will connect meter H5 in series with the cathode K and the power supply Il to indicate the leakage current and will disconnect neon lamp H39 and resistor HB8 from the circuit.

With the circuits above described, a highly eicient cathode ray tube tester is provided which is compact, sturdy and has but few parts and which will accurately measure minute gas currents as vwell as considerably larger emission and leakage currents, yet does not decrease the sensitivity of the meter and its associated ampliiier in order that stray currents will not be amplied, but rather compensates for such stray currents.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

`l-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An equipment for testing cathode ray tubes comprising a meter for determining current flow,

an amplifier associated with said meter and inr cluding a vacuum tube, means for connecting' the elements of such cathode ray tube to said tester, said means including a lead from the anode of such cathode ray tube to the control grid of said vacuum tube, means for connecting said meter in the plate circuit of said vacuum tube, means for biasing such cathode ray tube to cut oi, means for regulating the current flow through said meter to a predetermined amount, means for applying conducting bias to such cathode ray tube and for switching said meter to the accelerating grid circuit of such cathode ray tube to determine the emission of such tube, means for switching said meter to the plate circuit of `said vacuum tube when such cathode ray tube is conducting to determine the gas current thereof, a short circuit indicating device, means to switch said device into circuit with at least one or the elements of such cathode ray tube while simultaneously biasing the latter to cut off and switch means to connect said meter in circuit with element and disconnect said short circuit indicating'device thereby to determine leakage current.

2. The 'cmblaton set forth Lin Claim .1 in

10 which said short circuit indicating device comprises a neon lamp and a resistor in parallel with said neon lamp, whereby when current flows through said resistor the voltage thereacross will be applied across said lamp to illuminate the latter.

3. A cathode ray tube tester comprising a meter for determining current new, an amplifier including a vacuum tube associated with said meter, means for connecting the elements of a cathode ray tube to said tester, said means including a lead from the anode of said cathode ray tube to the control grid or said vacuum tube, a resistor connected at one end of the control grid of said vacuum tube and at its other end to ground, a source of energizing potential for said vacuum tube and said cathode ray tube, means simultaneously to connect said meter in series with the plate circuit of said vacuum tube and a source of positive potential; to apply a positive potential to the accelerating grid of said cathode ray tube; to apply a lower positive potential to the cathode of said cathode ray tube, and to bias said cathode ray tube to cut olf, a source of biasing potential for said vacuum tube, means to regulate said biasing potential to adjust the current iiow through said meter from said vacuum tube and said cathode ray tube to a predetermined amount, means for switching said meter from the plate circuit oi said vacuum tube, in series with the accelerating grid of said cathode ray tube and a source of positive potential and simultaneously to bias the cathode ray tube so that it will conduct, whereby said meter will indicate the emission of said cathode ray tube and means to switch said meter to the plate circuit of said vacuum tube whereby said meter will indicate the gas current in said cathode ray tube.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which a resistor of relatively 1ow ohmic value with respect to the ohmic value of said meter is in parallel therewith when said meter is in series with the accelerating grid of said cathode ray tube.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which means are provided to adjust the bias on said cathode ray tube to set the emission thereof to a predetermined amount whereby the ratio between gas current and the emission based on said predetermined amount of emission may be ascertained.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the means simultaneously to connect said meter in series with the plate circuit or said vacuum tube and a source of positive potential to apply a positive potential to the accelerating grid of .said cathode ray tube, to apply a lower positive potential to the cathode of said cathode ray tube and to bias said cathode ray tube to cut oil comprises a first switch having a fixed contact connected to said plate and a movable arm connected to one side of said meter, a second switch having a movable arm connected to the other side of said meter and a iixed Contact connected to a source of positive potential, a third switch having a movable arm connected to said accelerating grid and a liXed contact connected to a source of positive potential, a fourth switch having a fixed contact connected to said cathode, a movable contact arm and a voltage divider in circuit with said movable arm and a source of positive potential, said movable arms being gauged to move in unison to engage the associated contacts.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which a ganged pair of push button two point l 1 make and break switches are provided, each having a pair of contacts and a jumper arm, one of said jumper arms normally engaging its associated contacts to close the associated switch and the other jumper arm being spaced from its associated contact to open the associated switch, one of the contacts of each of said switches being connected together and to one side of said meter, the other contact of said closed switch being connected to the source of positive potential and to the accelerating grid of such cathode ray tube and the other contact of said open switch being connected to the plate of said vacuum tube whereby upon actuation of said switches, said meter will be connected to the plate circuit of said vacuum tube and disconnected from the accelerating grid circuit thereof.

ROBERT A. REID.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,668,748 Whiting et a1. May 8, 1928 2,075,415 Williams Mar. 30, 1937 2,092,896 Stincheld Sept. 14, 1937 2,172,953 Buchard Sept. 12, 1939 2,198,242 Buchard Apr. 23, 1940 2,444,036 Crost June 29, 1948 2,560,952 Herold July 17, 1951 

